Adult Virginians are split on banning anthem protests, poll finds

Virginian adults have split feelings on whether to ban national anthem protests in high schools amid a controversy which stemmed from the NFL.

When asked in a VCU poll whether they would support rules to restrict protests during the anthem, 50 percent of respondents were opposed, while 45 percent said they would support the bans.

Respondents were split along partisan lines. Minorities and Democrat participants were more likely than white and Republican participants to oppose a protest ban. People from Northern Virginia and the Tidewater region were also more likely to oppose a ban.

Robyn McDougle, interim director of the Wilder School’s Office of Public Policy Outreach — who conducted the poll — said she thought it was likely a poll conducted in a university setting would have shown more opposition to a ban.

Kayla Smith, a sophomore track athlete and NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member, said she agreed with McDougle; a ban would limit student athletes’ freedom of speech, Smith said.

“I don’t think it would pan out well just because so many college athletes have been [protesting],” Smith said. “I feel like we already have a lot of restrictions as to what we can do and what we can’t, so I don’t think that would be beneficial — to impose more restrictions.”

For the most part, in her experience Smith said, university coaches support athletes expressing their opinions on political topics, so long as they are aware of the consequences.

McDougle said she couldn’t anticipate what the results would be in a poll about banning anthem protests at the collegiate level.

“They really are apples and oranges,” McDougle said. “There’s a lot tied into college sports around the country with regards to endorsements, television time and what teams wear what athletic sponsors.”

VCU Athletic Director Ed Mclaughlin shared the department’s policy on the issue which stated the university respects and understands students making use of their right to free speech.

“Our job is to prepare them to make choices for themselves,” the statement said. “We encourage our student-athletes to educate themselves on issues of social justice, especially before participating in any action of protest, so they understand potential impact and consequences.”

Nia Tariq, Contributing Writer